Entertainment

5 Location-Based Dating Apps Worthy of Your Love

Layla Revis is vice president of digital influence at Ogilvy PR Worldwide. Her specialties include international affairs, tourism and multicultural marketing.

Location-based services like Foursquare are here to stay, that much is true. For some, however, local deals and specials only go so far. That’s where location-based dating comes in. Love: there’s an app for that.

In 2009, a study by online dating site Skout noted that 69% of people were comfortable meeting up with someone they met on their iPhone, and 40% were using a mobile dating service while out at bars, clubs and restaurants.

Now GPS dating apps for those looking for local love have flooded the iPhone and Android markets. The following list includes five geo-location apps for romance-seekers on the go.

One of the earlier GPS-powered social networks, Brightkite isn’t a “dating” app per se, but rather, introduces local users on a basic level. Brightkite uses participants’ current locations to connect people, allowing them to chat and possibly meet up. The network has been heralded as a great way to meet new people, find a date or connect with locals while traveling.

More of a small startup compared to its Match.com and OkCupid competition, MeetMoi may not boast as large an audience, but its select participation may actually work in its favor. The company’s goal is to “strip down dating to what's essential — the introduction.”

By showing you nearby singles who meet your dating criteria, MeetMoi hopes to lead you to a real-life connection. Once you've joined, the company’s technology updates your location in real time, helping to introduce you to great people nearby. If you like what you see on that person’s profile, choose to connect with them immediately.

Dubbed “the Google of online dating,” OKCupid hit the scene in 2004. The service slowly carved out an industry presence by offering its network for free. Furthermore, OKCupid also hosts OK Trends, a blog that charts analytics and user habits.

Sonar brings your social network to life in the real world. By connecting to Facebook and Twitter, the app lets you see, in real time, how to connect with those physically around you. Each time you check in to a location, Sonar checks whether other users are nearby. From there, you can make the decision whether to say hello.

Although Sonar doesn’t define itself as a geo-location dating service, the company’s goal is to “uncover the hidden connections you miss everyday, in real time, in the palm of your hand.”

One of the safest apps out there, Skout’s terrific flagging services alert users of inappropriate contact. With over one million users, the service hosts one of the largest and most popular location-based dating apps on the iPhone and Android markets. Features like private chat, private blog access, search filters and flirt buzz (which tracks who around you is hooking up) allow you to connect with only the people you want to meet, making this app a solid favorite among the online singles audience.

What do you think about the future of mobile connection? What's the best location-based dating app you've encountered on the market?

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